The upcoming Buffalo Bills playoff home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday is expected to be accompanied by frigid temperatures and strong winds, but the real wildcard lies in whether the game will be engulfed in lake effect snow. The National Weather Service has recently issued a winter storm watch for much of Western New York, including Orchard Park, where the Bills play.

The watch, which will be in effect from Saturday afternoon through Monday morning, warns of the possibility of over 7 inches of snowfall throughout the weekend, with wind gusts reaching speeds of up to 60 mph. The National Weather Service predicts temperatures during kickoff to hover around the 20s, but with the wind chill factor, it could feel up to 10 to 15 degrees colder, as gusts peak at 40 mph.

Mark Wysocki, the New York state climatologist and a Bills fan, humorously remarked that the football might be flying without even being thrown due to the strong winds. He further suggests that winds could potentially increase to 60 mph on Sunday, making for an even more challenging game.

Lake Erie, which remains relatively warm and free of ice, will contribute to the weather conditions as the wind whips across it, carrying moisture towards Buffalo. The weather service anticipates that the snowfall will likely commence on Saturday and continue through Sunday. The projected wind direction indicates that the snow may fall south of Buffalo, impacting Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, which is situated about six miles from the lake.

Wysocki explained that the precise prediction of where the narrow lake effect snow bands will occur remains challenging for computer models. Currently, these models indicate a projected snowfall of 3 to 5 inches for Buffalo on Sunday. However, if a snow band forms directly over Orchard Park, Wysocki suggests that the area might experience significant snowfall and whiteout conditions.

He further stated that there is a high likelihood of 6 to 12 inches of lake effect snow from Buffalo to Watertown on Sunday afternoon and evening, as winds blow in from the southwest. Predicting the specific direction of the wind is crucial, as even a slight shift of 10 degrees can alter the snow band's placement by 10 to 20 miles. Additionally, these bands tend to wobble and move unpredictably, much like a fire hose being waved back and forth.

While Buffalo will face wintry conditions during their playoff game, it won't be the coldest venue for this weekend's NFL playoffs. In Kansas City, where the Chiefs are hosting the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, the wind chill at kickoff is projected to plummet to 17 degrees below zero, marking the coldest game the Dolphins have ever played, according to CBS News.

In the event of a victory, the Bills would play another home game the following weekend, and Wysocki mentions the possibility of another storm then. This storm could bring intense lake effect snowfall, with winds potentially carrying snowfall from Lake Superior and Lake Huron, as they sweep down from the Hudson Bay.

As Buffalo braces for a potentially snow-filled playoff showdown, fans and players alike will have to contend with the challenging weather conditions that could impact the outcome of the game.